Baseball Remains Undefeated in Conference After Sweep of Pilgrims

HENNIKER, N.H. – The Mitchell College baseball team improved to 8-0 in New England Collegiate Conference play by sweeping a doubleheader at New England College on Saturday afternoon, taking the opener 4-0 before routing the Pilgrims 13-1 in the nightcap.

Ryan Solimine (Danbury, Conn.) was dominant on the mound for the Mariners in game one, tossing a seven-inning complete game shutout, allowing just four hits while striking out 10. Solimine, who improved his overall record to 5-1, has been brilliant in conference play this season, throwing to a 1.61 ERA across four starts, allowing just 18 hits in 28 innings of work against New England College, Eastern Nazarene College, and Lesley University.

Not to be outdone, Camren Varney (Manchester, N.H.) took care of business in the second game, working six innings of one run ball to earn his third victory of the season. The senior righty allowed just six hits and struck out four, before freshman John Novak (Colchester, Conn.) came out of the bullpen and tossed a one-two-three seventh inning.

The Mariners (24-4 overall, 8-0 NECC) have now won eight games in a row and will look to keep the streak alive with a non-conference doubleheader at home on Sunday, April 16, against Salve Regina.

Game 1 – Mitchell 4, NEC 0

With Solimine in control on the bump, the Mariner bats did just enough by giving the team a lead in the third inning when Bo Yaworski (Brooklyn, Conn.) and Dougie DelaCruz (Uncasville, Conn.) each drove in runs and were aided by a Pilgrim error. The score remained 2-0 until the top of the fifth, when Yaworski belted his sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot, to give Mitchell a four run advantage.

The Mariners managed just three hits off NEC starter Wyatt Cameron, who allowed three earned runs in seven innings of work, striking out seven. Bryce Worth led the Pilgrims at the plate with a pair of hits.

Game 2 – Mitchell 13, NEC 1

The Mitchell offense woke up in a big way during the second game of the twin bill in New Hampshire, as Dougie DelaCruz opened the game with a three run home run in the top of the first off NEC starter Austin Hazzard. The Mariners plated four more runs in the top of the second, with Matt Falk (Enfield, Conn.) and Lelo Martinez (New London, Conn.) each hitting RBI singles, before adding two more the next inning to hold a commanding nine run edge after three innings of play.

Martinez, Justin Adorno (New Britain, Conn.), and Angel Galindez (Carolina, PR) each had multi-hit games for the Mariners in the win, while Martinez led the way with four RBI and Galindez finished 2-3 with two RBI and three runs scored.